Radio, Television, Humour, Pictures, Music, Life the Universe anything goes from the Wireless Waffler living in the wonderful country called England

Radio Newsbeat

I have greatly increased the number of FM radio stations I can hear in the Thames Valley. I used some old thin speaker wire (2 strand) about 15 feet in length) I then ensured that both wires were bare on both ends. I twisted these together and then joined them to a crocodile clip. These can be bought online or from a Maplins or the like. I doubled the wire over my plastic picture rail for the Roman Blind, in the kitchen. The aerial I am connecting it to is the Sony Radio telescopic antenna. In my case the aerial is only extended by two sections. It brings in Radio 4 which was not receivable, all the BBC Stations, and surprisingly Jack FM from Berkshire. Jack FM is great to listen to when in the kitchen, mainly back to back music, odd adverts, and an automatic voice feed from time to time.

Heard recently on BBC Berkshire that they are doing some new Thunderbird episodes in Slough. This is using the original stringed puppets (or re-makes) They are not sure if they will be shown on TV yet though. More information at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33706610

News selected from the Radio Today Site:

Ray Clark returns to BBC Essex schedule

There’s a new schedule on BBC Essex from Monday, with Ray Clark making a return to the station.

Ray previously hosted breakfast on the station, before moving to afternoons last year then retiring in the summer. He’ll now host a new weekend show from 9am till 11am Saturdays.

In other schedule changes, early breakfast will see The Early Wobble with Rob Jelly air from 5am till 6am weekdays, whilst Sadie Nine from afternoons will kick off a new morning show with the Nine at Nine feature.

Tony Fisher’s afternoon show has been extended by an hour and will now run from 12pm till 4pm Monday to Friday, followed by current morning show host Dave Monk on drive till 7pm.

Louise Birt, Managing Editor at BBC Essex, says: “We are where Essex comes to talk. With this new-look schedule we’ve created more opportunities for people to get involved with our shows – and set the agendas themselves.

“This is an exciting time for BBC Essex. We’re approaching our 30th birthday next year so wanted to shake up the schedule and go into 2016 with a fresh sound.”
The new BBC Essex weekday schedule is:

Beryl Renwick, the former BBC Radio Humberside presenter, has died at the age of 89.

Beryl found fame as one half of the presenting team Beryl and Betty during their six year stint on-air. Her co-presenter Betty Smith died last year.

They came to the attention of the wider radio industry in 2012 when they beat Frank Skinner to Best Entertainment programme Gold at the Sonys.

Beryl will be fondly remembered at BBC Radio Humberside in a short tribute piece this morning, followed by recollections from the BBC’s David Reeves on Friday afternoon.

David first spotted their potential when he overheard them talking during a tour of the BBC buildings in Hull. The show turned out to be a Saturday night hit, as Beryl and Betty’s chatter, jokes and pop music choices endeared them to their audience.

Simon Pattern, Managing Editor of BBC Radio Humberside: “Beryl was just herself, and that’s the most important qualification a radio presenter can have. What you heard on air was what we heard when she walked into our reception each week, a delightful and very caring Hull woman. She had a wonderful sense of humour, which she shared with her co-presenter Betty Smith.

“Once they got the giggles, there were times I would feel sorry for David Reeves, the third person in the studio! We were all saddened to hear the news of Beryl’s passing. We’re just so pleased that for a few years we had the chance to share and enjoy the company of this very special lady.”

The programme ended in 2012 after Betty became ill, although Beryl continued to occasionally appear on air.

Beryl’s niece Valerie Bourne says: “As a family, we would like to say a huge “thank you” to David and the Team for making Beryl’s latter years so happy and fulfilled. She lived for her broadcasting days and the happy and friendly atmosphere at the Station. She also was very proud of the fame she gained for being one half of the Dynamic Duo.

Cambridge small-scale DAB multiplex launches

UKRD’s minimux for Cambridge is switched on today and the group says it is looking forward to “thoroughly testing” how effective this new initiative is.

“We’re delighted to have been given the opportunity to test this new type of DAB multiplex and it’ll be interesting to see how everything functions and operates,” said Chief Executive William Rogers.

“Clearly it’s far too early to get any sense as to whether this represents a solution to the many serious issues facing smaller local commercial stations resulting from this whole DAB project but we hope this initiative may start to address some of them and potentially assist in gaining an insight into the options open to operators such as ourselves,” he continued.

The multiplex launches with five services being broadcast – they are UKRD’s local station, Star Radio, community radio station Cambridge 105, Chris Country, Gaydio and student station Core Radio.

He replaces James Dundon who was pinched by Global to present the same show on Heart Cornwall.

The Cornish comedian will link up with Holly Day on the 2pm-7pm slot from the end of the month.

Johnny said: “This is something new for me – but it’s down here in my beautiful Cornwall and I can’t wait. Born and bred. I went to St Merryn County Primary School and then Wadebridge Comprehensive. And then St Austell Sixth Form College, but that was more snooker than college really. I wasn’t really cut out for the old academics.”

From September 28th the man known as “Cornwall’s greatest comedy export” joins Holly Day on Pirate FM, who has met thousands of workers at hundreds of businesses, handing out cakes across the Duchy.

Pirate FM’s Breakfast Show presenter and Program Controller Neil Caddy said: “It’s really exciting. The exciting thing about Johnny Cowling is that he is Mr Cornwall.

“Of course Holly Day is really well known in this part of the world. It is really underlines what we are in terms of being a local radio station and, with that show let’s be honest – you’re never going to know what’s going to happen next.”

Having worked with the likes of Ben Elton, Johnny Vegas and Paddy McGuinness, This Morning presenter Fern Britton asked him to appear at her fiftieth birthday party. She called him: “One of our great undiscovered comedy talents. He gave us an hour of pure genius.

Broadcaster Paul Gambaccini will appear at this year’s Radio Festival to talk about his year ‘Under The Yewtree’.

Gambaccini will be speaking for the first time in depth about his time under investigation and the effect it had on his life and career.

Also added to the line up of the Radio Academy event is Nick Ferrari to speak about the ‘Future of the BBC’ with James Purnell, Director of Strategy & Digital (BBC) whilst Janet Street Porter will speak about the ‘Media Landscape’.

Chris Burns, Chair of The Radio Academy, said: “I am incredibly excited by the breadth of speakers at this year’s Radio Festival Showcase. In a single day you will hear from some of the best creatives, marketers, innovators, leaders and presenters in the industry.”

Radio Festival this year consists of the BBC Music John Peel Lecture (Sun 27 September); Radio Festival TechCon (Mon 28 September); and Radio Festival Showcase (Tues 29 September), a day of keynote speakers, contributors and polemics from the radio and audio industry and beyond, designed to inspire, celebrate, challenge and inform.

Brian Eno will host this year’s BBC Music John Peel Lecture. The line-up for Radio Festival TechCon will be announced over the coming weeks.

Radio Festival 2015 at the British Library in London takes place Sun 27 – Tues 29 September.

Robert D’Ovidio moves on from Capital role

Capital London Managing Editor Rob D’Ovidio is moving to a new group role within Global.

His new position will be in the programming department with a focus on the group’s music brands, starting October 5th.

Robert was appointed Managing Editor in 2013, having been with Capital since 2009. He was responsible for the London network centre as well as Capital FM London.

Richard Park sent a note to staff earlier today confirming the changes, saying: “I’m pleased to announce that Robert D’Ovidio will be taking up a new role at Global within group programming.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Robert for his work on Capital to date and we look forward to continued success in his new role in group programming. We will announce the plans for Capital’s managing editor position in due course.”